Adaptogens in definition can be broken down into three main characteristics:

Plants which are entirely safe.

Plants which have a broad range of therapeutic effects without causing disturbance to the normal functioning of the human or organism.

Plants which normalize the functions of the bodily systems.

As such, adaptogens are a vital component to human health. Adaptogens are special plants, which have unique properties. These natural biologically active substances or "organic chemicals" protect the body from stress.

The word "Adaptogen" was first coined by the Russian scientist, Dr. Nicolai Lazarev. His extensive research preventative treatment of the damaging effects of new industrial chemicals on humans can be traced back to the Hungarian endocrinologist, Dr. Hans Selye (1907-1982).

Dr. Selye was a leading pioneer in stress research, universally acknowledged as "the father of stress". Over the course of his lifetime he wrote over 1,700 scholarly papers and 39 books on stress. The findings that Dr. Selye discovered would have a profound influence on Dr. Lazarev and later his pupil, the "father of adaptogens" Dr. Israel Brekhman.

General Adaptation Syndrome (G.A.S.), a theory of stress, was the primer concept to Adaptogens first developed by Dr. Selye in 1936. This G.A.S. theory involves three progressive stages of stress:

First Stage - The Alarm Reaction

Surprise and anxiety inducing hormones are produced by the body when a person is exposed to a new situation. The 'flight or fight' hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine create a heightened state of awareness or alertness, causing the body to become tense and stressed. These 'stress hormones' cause several changes in the body, including an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. Additionally, the adrenal cortex is stimulated to produce additional cortisol and related hormones.

Second Stage - Resistance

This adaptive stage is when a persons body learns to efficiently cope with the stressor it is exposed to. Diseases such as insomnia, headaches, high blood pressure and kidney disease manifest themselves during this stage when a persons immunity is vulnerable and weakened due to prolonged exposure of the stressor.

Third Stage - Exhaustion

Further exposure to the stressor over longer duration can start to manifest in symptoms such as infection, complete depletion of energy and eventual cardiovascular disease, in which the person can suffer from a heart attack.

Although the above mentioned G.A.S. stages are negative in nature. Dr. Selye did point out useful reactions of stress. He noted that stress is not only inevitable in life but results from situations that one would generally think of as non-stressful. For example, situations such as a job promotion, completing a degree, marriage and vacation could all be considered positive and even joyful or happy. These stresses help to shape our adaptive capabilities in positive ways, although our bodies are still affected negatively.

Whereas Western scientists were slow to accept Selye's ideas of the General Adaptation Syndrome (G.A.S.), his concept was readily accepted by leading Russian researchers. One of the first Soviet scientists to embrace Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome was Dr. Nicholai Lazarev.

Dr. Lazarev's acquired knowledge from the research on G.A.S. led him to a clue for his quest to find a preventative treatment for the toxic exposure to chemicals.

Dr. Lazarev, was a pioneer in the then-emerging fields of toxicology and preventive medicine. In 1932, Lazarev discovered that different industrial chemicals, even in mild concentrations and small dosages, could cause similar alarm reactions, and that if exposure is prolonged, the body will adapt by altering its physiological response (resistance). This adaptive reaction tends to gradually disturb homeostasis, which is damaging to health.

Lazarev found that Selye's publication on stress confirmed his own findings. Selye proved that a variety of stressors, not just chemical stressors, can cause non-specific stress reactions. Selye's work was so influential, in fact, that Lazarev changed the direction of his work. He began looking not only for substances that could improve humans' general resistance to toxins, but could also correct the general adaptation reaction to all kinds of stressors, including both mental and physical stress.

From the beginning of the second World War, the Soviet government drafted all Soviet scientists, including Dr. Lazarev, to work on military projects. Lazarev's efforts again shifted, this time to finding substances that could help soldiers overcome fatigue and improve their performance on the battlefield. With the soldiers as unknowing guinea pigs for amphetamines and other stimulants, Lazarev learned that many drugs were very effective in improving performance in response to great challenges in extreme situations for very short terms. However, he realized that the stimulants were harmful when used for prolonged periods. When WWII ended, Lazarev switched his focus to natural alternatives.

Traditional Herbs

Lazarev was especially intrigued by a group of herbs that ancient medical traditions referred to as 'elite' or 'kingly.' In Traditional Chinese Medicine these herbs were classified as effective for increasing physical and mental capacity, reducing fatigue, improving resistance to disease, and promoting life extension. In China, soldiers used these herbs before battle. In Siberia, hunters used the herbs before long and dangerous journeys. In 1948, Lazarev and his protege, Dr. Israel Brekhman, undertook the challenge of researching the utility and effectiveness of this group of plants that Lazarev named "adaptogens."

Increased Stamina

A long distance runner, Brekhman chose stamina as an index of vitality. One cold morning in April 1948, 100 soldiers set out to run a 3-kilometer race. Prior to the race, half of them had been given an extract of ginseng, while the others received a placebo. Soldiers given the ginseng extract finished the race an average of 53 seconds ahead of the placebo group.
Unfortunately, ginseng had drawbacks, including its poor availability and high cost. Brekhman also found that its effectiveness varied among different people. For example, men responded to ginseng better than women, and the elderly benefited more when compared to the young and middle-aged. Furthermore, even a variation in dosing could lead to overstimulation.

Because of these factors, Brekhman and his team began to look for alternative plants. First they selected herbs able to survive in harsh environments. Russian scientists were convinced that the unique composition of biologically active substances of these herbs helped them to adapt and survive for millions of years through many cataclysmic changes in nature. Brekhman's scientific group determined that Eleutherococcus sinensis, commonly known as Siberian Ginseng, had even greater anti-fatigue properties than the better-known Panax ginseng.

Synergistic Action

The mechanism by which adaptogens achieve their stress protecting, normalizing action is well researched (mostly in the USSR and Japan). Adaptogens act to restore hypothalamic and peripheral receptor sensitivity to the effects of cortisol and other adrenal hormones. In this way, adaptogens enable the body to mount an appropriate stress response with lower amounts of cortisol than would otherwise be required. In addition, adaptogens help the adrenals return to normal more quickly. Brekhman's colleague, Dr. I.V. Dardymov, showed that adaptogens enhance utilization of glucose, resulting in lower levels of stress-induced hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. These studies were confirmed by Professor Farnsworth's laboratory at the University of Chicago.

Clinicians have noticed that certain adaptogens act synergistically, and that they work best when combined. One of the leading researchers in adaptogen research today is Ben Tabachnik, PhD, who emigrated from Russia nearly a decade ago, bringing with him the accumulated knowledge of adaptogens, once guarded as a state secret by the Soviet government. Tabachnik pointed out that specific combinations of adaptogens are even more effective than when they are used separately. He also found that certain combinations were more effective at certain times, such as before competition or after competition, when they often speeded the recovery process.

The Russian scientist Dr. Israel Brekhman studied and researched adaptogens extensively under the guidance of the former Soviet Union. He devoted his life to the discovery of new formulations that could promote health, longevity and overall well-being. He was the first to expand his knowledge and expertise from this entirely new world of nutrition and health. What he scientifically achieved, laid the foundation for what would become the basis of D&A. This paved the way for the "herbal dynamic synergy" for achieving and maintaining good health in a modern age, when environmental and social conditions continually oppose natural, bodily functions.

These synergetic compounds, working together, were promulgated by Dr. Brekhman to accomplish a number of physiological changes in humans and animals: increase protein biosynthesis, raise antibody concentrations at immunization, elevate the body's enzyme synthesis by means of endocrine stimulation, enhance mental work capacity, uplift physical work capacity along with endurance and performance, alleviate free radicals to prevent oxidizing pathology, improve eyesight, color perception, hearing, and vestibular functions, benefit cardiovascular and respiratory functions, promote longevity, and increase the body's nonspecific resistance to various stressors. Some of the latest scientific evidence shows that adaptogenic substances can increase the ability of cells to manufacture and use cell fuel more efficiently in periods of stress and strain. In particular, these substances appear to increase the capacity of cells to use energy by activating MRNA (messengers) and TRNA (transporters). Adaptogens also act as antioxidants, protecting cellular membranes from the adverse effects of free radical build up.

Ginseng

A long distance runner, Brekhman chose stamina as an index of vitality. One cold morning in April 1948, 100 soldiers were sent out to run a 3-kilometer race as a test. Prior to the race, half of them had been given an extract of ginseng, while the others received a placebo. Soldiers given the ginseng extract finished the race an average of 53 seconds ahead of the placebo group.

Unfortunately, ginseng had drawbacks, including its poor availability and high cost. Brekhman and his team began to look for other adaptogenic plants. First they selected herbs able to survive in harsh environments. Russian scientists were convinced that the unique composition of biologically active substances of these herbs helped them to adapt and survive for millions of years through many cataclysmic changes in nature. Brekhman's scientific group determined that Panax Ginseng had superior anti-fatigue properties.

Ginseng has a natural anabolic effect, aiding in the rebuilding of damaged muscle tissue that coincides with strenuous physical activity. This is accomplished by facilitating the synthesis of protein within the body. Through the use of adaptogens, the time needed for the body to recover from high-intensity training or extended periods of stress is greatly reduced. This anabolic effect is similar to the effect obtained when using synthetic anabolic steroids, but the harmful cellular damaging side effects linked to steroid use are not present. Ginseng is only one in the universal pantheon of adaptogens.

Adaptogens As Fatigue Resistors

The evidence surrounding the specific effects on stress-induced fatigue have been collected using randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials involving Rhodiola extract. The evidence-based effect of adaptogens on cognitive function is supported by numerous preclinical and several clinical studies. Indeed, a growing body of evidence substantiates the clinical efficacy of adaptogens to increase mental performance, attention and the ability to concentrate in temporary and chronic fatigue

The most recently published randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials involving Rhodiola extract have confirmed results obtained in the many preclinical and clinical studies of adaptogens on humans and animals that had been carried out in the former USSR. Thus, administration of Rhodiola extract in a dose of 576 mg a day over a 4 week period exhibited anti-fatigue activity (as determined by Pines’ Burnout Measure) and increased attention and the ability to concentrate (according to Conners´ Continuous Performance Test II) in burnout patients. Similarly, administration of Rhodiola extract in single or repeated doses to healthy subjects over a 1 week period led to significant increases in attention in psychometric d2 and Stroop tests.

Adaptogens As Anxiety Resistors

Ginger has long been used in folk medicine as a treatment for anxiety and depression.
Nine separate compounds with specific effects on human serotonin receptors have been extracted from ginger root in animal studies, according to a study published in the May 2010 issue of the journal Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry. The researchers describe the compounds as having moderate to significant capacity to bind to serotonin receptors, with as much as 60 percent activation of the neurotransmitter, which is known for its anti-anxiety effects. Serotonin is also known as the neurotransmitter associated with a “happy” mood. Further research to confirm the results of this preliminary animal study on the anti-anxiety effects of ginger in humans is warranted.

Adaptogens As Depression Resistors

In Traditional Chinese Medicine mental disharmonies often indicate that the Shen (which resides in the heart, not in the brain) is unsettled or troubled. We call this condition Disturbed Shen. This is akin to the western term depression. For most people, depression will not lead to 'heart disease' or any physical heart problem. Nevertheless, depression is a physical condition and will respond anti-depressive adaptogens.

Chinese Peony has been used in China as part of Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years. This herb has been used clinically to treat depression-like symptoms in Chinese medicine, and it has been shown to possess anti-depressant properties. In clinical trials (lab-mice) in China it has been shown to inhibit the effects of depression.

Adaptogens As Functional Whole Food Vitamins

Nature has provided us with adaptogens so that they can function on many different levels. One of these functions or purposes is to provide our bodies with the natural vitamins it needs to stay balanced, or in homeostasis. Adaptogens that function as such, stimulate the adaptive mechanisms of your body. These whole food supplements contain a special complex chemistry of nutrients, which your body easily identifies and absorbs. Adaptogens provide an integrated structure of nutrients, which aid in regaining and maintaining a balanced body system.

Most vitamins and mineral products are "chelated", which is the chemical process of binding an inorganic mineral to an amino acid, which isolates the active ingredient of the vitamin (much like the pharmaceutical drugs that simulate adaptogens). Your body digests, absorbs and utilizes the nutrients from vitamin and mineral supplements far less than from functional whole food adaptogens. Because of the chelation process, which is the isolation process, more than a half of what you ingest, flushes out of your body. Worse, some of these vitamin and mineral supplement's isolated nutrients could accumulate in your body burdening your liver and kidneys. Your body simply has a hard time recognizing the isolated nutrients in vitamin mineral supplements. Your body does recognize and utilize, to the fullest, the complex nutritional values from functional foods and whole food adaptogenic supplements.

Unlike vitamin mineral supplements, whole food adaptogens give you the advantage of all the protoplasmic elements that aid in the growth and development of your cells. In fact, no vitamin or mineral supplement can ever replace the value of whole food adaptogenic supplements.

Stress and stress-related disorders are a significant cause of disease in modern times, accounting to upward of 75% of all illnesses. Stress can throw our body and mind out of balance with one another. This balance or equilibrium is called Homeostasis. Stress disrupts homeostasis- the healthy, balanced stability within our bodies. Stress taxes our immune, adrenal and nervous systems and can lead to heightened vulnerability to viral infectious diseases such as colds or flu. We can draw upon the wisdom of ancient traditional medicinal practices to maintain homeostasis and stay healthy during times of seemingly ever-increasing stress.

Adaptogens were classified by the ancient Chinese as the most effective plants to increase physical and mental capacity, reduce fatigue, improve resistance to diseases, and extend lifespan. People discovered that using adaptogens is vital during times of challenges. In China, adaptogens were used by soldiers right before battle. In Siberia, the same plants were used by hunters before long, dangerous journeys. The Tibetan monks were able to get by without food and warm clothes, living high in the mountains for many days using these plants. Despite many legends and thousands of years of utilization of these herbs by many generations of people in China, Russia, Japan, Korea and finally in Europe, the effectiveness of these herbs from a scientific standpoint was not confirmed until 45 years ago. It was done by the Russian physician and scientist Dr. Israel Brekhman. He, and his mentor Dr. Nikolai Lazarev, named them “Adaptogens.”

The reason for naming these herbs “Adaptogens” resulted from the scientific discovery, which proved their effectiveness in helping the human body to “adapt” or to “adjust” to strains and changes of daily living. By adapting to changes in the environment, mankind has survived. Scientific studies have shown that both humans and other organisms that are able to adapt best, survive longer. In fact, these herbs have managed to survive harsh environments for centuries due to their unique composition of biologically active substances. This contributes to an overall state of balance or homoestasis.

In essence, adaptogens are regulators and reinforcers. They regulate through their normalizing effect and reinforce an organism's adaptive capacity to withstand stress and thus result in a faster response to stress and return to homeostasis.